This vintage real photo postcard features a World War I era ambulance and two members of it’s crew. This postcard presents a number of questions. Is this a military or civilian ambulance? The attendants are wearing uniforms but are they military uniforms? The windshield of the ambulance has a cover and two very small windows. Is this windshield military issued? After doing some research, it is clear that this postcard pictures a civilian ambulance. A box on the running board of the vehicle has printing which states that the ambulance (or the box) was “presented by Messrs. Dorman Long & Co. Ltd.”. Dorman Long is an engineering company which does consulting as well as manufactures equipment for the construction of long-span bridges, power stations, and other large building structures. At it’s creation, the company was based in Middlesbrough, in northeast England. The company was founded in 1875. A logo on the the side of the ambulance indicates that the emergency vehicle was part of the St. John Ambulance Association. This group was founded in 1877. In 1887 they began it’s first uniformed first-aiders brigade. The organization continues today and has become international. There are 40 national organizations and 500,000 volunteers worldwide. The eight pointed Maltese Cross is a component of all the different national logos. This historic postcard has excellent clarity and is in good condition (see scans). SOLD

I can’t decipher the words above A.S.C. — but the initials themselves may stand for Army Service Corps, one of many auxiliary aid groups active during the Great War. These Brits were hailed as the unsung heroes of WW I for their great service in transporting tons of ammunition, food and medical supplies to the troops, wherever needed.

I was trying to narrow down to a country for the A.S.C. unit – Britain or one of the Empire countries, but no matter. The ambulance would have been donated to “the Nation” or “the King” by Dorman Long as their contribution to the war effort. A more common practice than you might think. The uniforms are Army Service Corps. The St. John’s badge may suggest that the crew volunteered from that organisation. The purpose of the windshield, which appears to be made of canvas, is interesting and needs more research.